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| Dan in Real Life | 
 enlarge | Director: Peter Hedges
Actors: Juliette Binoche, Steve Carell, John Mahoney, Bernie Mcinerney, Dianne Wiest
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy Used: $6.74
You Save: $23.25 (78%)
New (45) Used (44) Collectible (1) from $6.74
Avg. Customer Rating:  128 reviews
Sales Rank: 766
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 98
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: DISD54166D
UPC: 786936732658
EAN: 0786936732658
ASIN: B00118T632
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: March 11, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Disc may have light scratches. Case may show some wear
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Product Description
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 03/11/2008 Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com
Steve Carell's best film performance to date can be found in the fitfully engaging Dan In Real Life, where his long-suffering persona suits a character who lets his long-dormant hopes rise for a moment, only to be shot down again. Carell plays Dan Burns, a newspaper columnist who writes about family issues and relationships. As a widower with three growing girls to raise, however, the difference between Dan's printed wisdom and his struggles with fatherhood and loneliness is often vast. He's put to a severe test when he packs up the kids for a cabin holiday with his parents and siblings, then falls for the exotic, if elusive, Marie (Juliette Binoche) during a solo excursion to a bookstore. Stirred by a woman for the first time since his late wife, Dan is shocked to find that Marie is actually dating his brother Mitch (Dane Cook), and that she'll be spending the vacation with him in the midst of his family. From that point, the script, co-written by director Peter Hedges (Pieces of April), pretty much becomes a parade of difficult circumstances under which both Dan and Marie have to keep their attraction to one another secret. Certain scenes work better than others, but there is an overall monotony to the movie that isn't helped by a lack of onscreen chemistry between Binoche and Carell. Both actors are fine on their own terms, but whatever is supposed to be clicking between Marie and Dan isn't compelling enough to make one truly care that they get together somehow. Still, this is a film with plenty of moments to like, especially when Carell gets to broaden his previous range of emotions in a movie. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 123 more reviews...
Dan's the man! A quiet little film on just how quirky love can be. October 29, 2007
27 out of 31 found this review helpful
A tired formula gets a shot in the arm by affecting performances in this quaint little film that will touch you.
I have grown to really appreciate the acting talent of Steve Carell who really can carry a film. Carell darn near stole the show in Bruce Almighty to the point where the funniest segments were cut from the theatrical release because he upstaged Carrey so much, but those scenes where fortunately made available on the DVD release. Carell was again the saving grace of Evan Almighty and The 40-Year-Old Virgin in which both most likely would have died unnoticed had it not been for his sincere performances. This comedian definitely knows how to act. Carell reminds me of the legendary Dick Van Dyke when he had serious roles or moments and Bob Newhart's dry comedic delivery. It all just seems so effortless on Carell's part.
In another affecting performance we have Carell as a widower raising three daughters alone and giving his tidbits of wisdom on doing so in a local column titled "Dan in Real Life." Even though his wife has died four years ago, he has yet to really move beyond that in the way of a relationship. He has focused all his attention of his children and while that is admirable, a parent is still allowed to look out for himself too. He has not and the annual fall trip to his parents' cabin plays out all too realistically with everyone pushing him to find someone and he does.
He bumps into a lovely woman in town that he's immediately drawn to. She is played by the ever radiant Oscar winning actress Juliette Binoche, the only reason to see The English Patient and one who makes turning 43 seem really cool and desirable. In the hands of any other actress this role would have been blown out of portion, but in the subtle hands of Binoche, it is a delicate and balanced performance. Unfortunately, this terrific woman who seems perfect for him is, in reality, his brother's latest flame that he's brought down to the family cabin to meet everyone for the first time because "this one is different."
Sadly, the effects of this are handled much like a TV-movie or a good episode of that old series "Love Boat", or any other sitcom for that matter. What makes this film ultimately rise above that is admirable work done by the leads. These are seriously understated performances that are quite touching, believable and memorable in spite of a seriously flawed script at times.
Some of the humor in this film is both lame and predictable, but the execution is always dead on. Again, the performances are the key to this tired formula of the awkward romance. I guess this film is a good example of style over substance. Will this save this movie for everyone, no, but I think most might like this film. I doubt many will love it or even remember it much after seeing it, but it's a nice experience in spite of it's obvious weaknesses.
Yours Truly, Love Struck in Rhode Island October 25, 2007
24 out of 26 found this review helpful
Anyone who actually believes that love is a many splendored may not get their money's worth from "Dan in Real Life." Here's a film that shows just how unexpected, irregular, and confusing love can be, both in terms of family and romantic interests. There's intelligence to this story that's equally humorous and heartbreaking, proving once and for all that love is difficult to receive and even more difficult maintain. At times, it's also difficult to acknowledge, especially if it's being kept a secret. The greatest difficulty of all is letting go of love, to recognize that the past is the past and to know when to move on. All this is explored in "Dan in Real Life," a smart, witty, and touching romantic comedy that doesn't lose itself to an overabundance of cliches. The formulaic elements are there, but they're presented in a new way, and they're used in a story that can actually support them. They're not used simply because we expect them to be.
The plot focuses on Dan Burns (Steve Carell), a widowed advice columnist living in New Jersey with his three daughters. They all drive to Rhode Island for an annual family reunion, and its there that Dan meets Marie (Juliette Binoche), a good-natured woman who has traveled the world and seen many sights. Their romance comes to a halt when Dan discovers that Marie is dating his brother, Mitch (Dane Cook). Dan spends the rest of the film struggling with his feelings, unwilling to let Marie go yet unable to be honest with his family, who he can't seem to connect with.
As simple as this plot sounds, a number of fascinating, thought provoking elements liven things up. One of the most interesting is the relationship between Dan and his daughters. The two oldest are typical in that they hate Dan: seventeen-year-old Jane (Alison Pill) is desperate to see the world, and a great way to start would be to finally learn how to drive; fifteen-year-old Cara (Brittany Robertson) believes that she's deeply in love with a boy from school, and she openly despises her father for not letting that love develop. At one point, she screams that he's a murderer of love. Dan tries to rationalize the situation--Cara has only known the boy for three days, and it's impossible to know whether or not you're in love so quickly. Eventually, Dan begins to analyze his love for Marie, who he had only met three days earlier. His youngest daughter, Lilly (Marlene Lawston), is the least hostile, despite not understanding why her father behaves the way he does. As his love for Marie deepens, he loses track of Lilly, and he ultimately hurts her feelings by neglecting to read a special book she made for him.
Another important element is the relationship between Dan and his immediate family; because he makes himself so distant, they look at him more with concern than with love. Some feel that he needs to finally let go of his dead wife--his parents (John Mahoney and Dianne Wiest) set him on a blind date with an old family acquaintance (Emily Blunt), hoping that he'll finally have some fun. This suits his brother, Clay (Norbert Leo Butz), just fine, since he feels that Dan should "uncork" himself. The pressure they're putting on Dan is unmistakable, as is the fact that their actions are well intentioned but completely unnecessary. This is probably why he attempts to engage his nieces and nephews, even when they make it clear that they don't want to be engaged.
But the relationship between Dan and Marie is the most important element. It all boils down to the fact that two love struck people are under the same roof, unable to show their feelings for each other. How long can this go on? Will anyone notice? Will either of them be able to come clean? These are the questions we find ourselves asking as the film progresses, not only because the story is entertaining, but also because we eventually realize that Dan is not following the advice in his own written columns. Dan himself realizes this when his articles are considered for syndication in a major newspaper--he has become a hypocrite, someone so blindsided by love that he didn't think about who might get hurt by it.
Is it normal for love to be this emotionally exhausting? I don't think I'm the right person to answer that question, which is probably just as well; a recommendation for "Dan in Real Life" doesn't depend so much on what I think, but on the mindset you bring to the theater. This classic Boy Meet Girl fable is told in a non-traditional way, relying more on genuine emotional development than on a formulaic structure. Although it allows for the film's one weakness--an abrupt ending--the emotional development still does wonders for the story, preventing it from becoming a bland, meaningless romantic comedy. It helps that all of the characters are believable, especially Dan; as he comes to terms with the ups and downs of life, our own humanity is reaffirmed. This alone makes "Dan in Real Life" a heartfelt, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable film.
 "Learning to Live Again" March 12, 2008
15 out of 23 found this review helpful
`Dan in Real Life' has a solid premise that seldom falters. It's partly a family film and partly a romantic comedy, but the results are always engaging.
Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a newspaper columnist who gives people family advice. He's a widower of four years but is rearing his three daughters. At home he's strict to the point of obsession, so he won't let his fifteen year old date a boyfriend for fear of infatuation.
Pending is his family's yearly visit to his parents' rustic New England getaway while he awaits a verdict on whether or not his column will be put in syndication. Going to a local bookstore he discovers a beautiful woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche) with whom he'd like to connect. Later, Marie turns out to be his brother (Dane Cook) Mitch's girlfriend. Trying to juggle his desire to rekindle happiness and be the man he professes to be in his column is difficult at best.
Just like other Steve Carrell movies, his character is awkwardly caught in sticky situations. Unlike the other movies, however, Carrell's performance is more graceful and multifaceted. Dane Cook, who allegedly has a bad reputation as an actor, seems natural and nuanced as his brother Mitch. (Actually, the only other performance I've seen him in is his role as the sleazy voyeur in 'Mr. Brooks,' and there he was quite convincing.) Everyone else keeps a genuine vitality that this comedy needs.
Most of the movie spends time like a home video movie. They play football, sing songs, put on a talent show, play word games, and talk about life. It's a testament to the film that in the process, the brisk editing makes the whole getaway fun with people we really care about. 'Dan in Real Life' may not deliver the biggest laughs, but it is a warm, heartfelt comedy that gives us all a chance to get away from it all.
 Oh hey, it's "Meet The Parents" again! February 25, 2008
11 out of 20 found this review helpful
These movies are not fun, they are miserable. Maybe I'm alone on this, but I do not enjoy paying good money to watch the film's only likable, mostly rational character get crapped on by the universe. I do not have a fun time when the first 90 minutes of a movie are just a series of horrible, progressively unlikely situations that the protagonist stumbles into. It is not a good time for me. It is a bad time for me. I call it Meet The Parents Syndrome.
In addition to this syndrome's namesake, a number of films have duplicated this formula in an effort to siphon some of the Stiller franchise's success. They are all universally bad. I have written about this before. School For Scoundrels. The Ex. License To Wed. I was unfortunate enough to get forced into theaters for the first two. Never again.
Worse still is that Dan In Real Life had serious potential to be a phenomenal film. Steve Carell is flawless - he nearrrrrly salvages the entire thing. The first twenty minutes had me very excited because it felt as though the movie were going to straddle a delicate line between depressing drama and comedy with aplomb. No such luck. The balance is so bad, he even falls off a roof. Original, right? There are serious other highlights, don't get me wrong; the entire soundtrack consists of original songs by Sondre Lerche, Dane Cook is perfectly cast (especially for those of us annoyed by him), and there's an inspiring segment in which Steve does what we all wish he would: gives a big [expletive] you to the person that has wronged him. At the end of the day though, it's a procession of painful, awkward events, and it ends up just like you knew it would.
If only Steve Carell would pick better scripts.
Are there any defenders of these movies? Am I alone in not enjoying people's (fictional character's) lives get torn to shreds in front of my eyes? I suppose if you swear by those other flicks that utilize the same formula, you'll really enjoy this, but it's not for me. I fully endorse your purchase of the soundtrack though: Dan in Real Life
 really bad movie gets really bad review in real life March 23, 2008
11 out of 34 found this review helpful
pure, unadulterated cinematic garbarge. granted, to make such a bold statement requires valid reasoning...which i have. the following is a brief assessment of the movie:
the characters are a bunch of yuppie scum who spend time on family talent shows, battle of the sexes crossword style, and lawn aerobics. the daughters (with the exception of the youngest) are snotty brats. the older one is a smart-mouthed know-it-all with a brain the size of a peanut. the other is a trashy little tramp with a promising future in the escort service industry. the brother is played by america's favorite joke-thief, dane cook, who once again fails miserably while simultaneously adding to his fanbase of pimply preteens and pathetic college student dorks. the love interest is beautiful, mensa-status smart, funny, perfect and completely unconvincing (and unwatchable). the rest of the cast can be summed up as nauseating jerks.
i sat through the movie waiting for something interesting to happen and, tragically, it never did. it was the most overrated and uninventive vomit-inducer i've seen in a while. do yourself a favor and watch something else, anything else.
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